Sliced bacon package



Aug. 28, 1951 c. G. MAYER ET AL y y SLICED BACON PACKAGE Filed Jan. 7,1950 l l l memes Aug. 2s. 1951 suono Bacon PACKAGE Carl Gr Mayer andOscar E. Seiferth, Madison, Wis., assignors to Oscar Mayer & 0o., Inc..

cago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois 'Application January 1, 195o, sumNo. 131,442 11 claims. (c1. xfs-114) l This invention relates topackaging and is more particularly concerned with improvements in a4package ofsliced bacon or similar merchandise.

It is an object of the invention to provide a package of merchandise.such as sliced bacon, which presents a neat and attractive appearance,which facilitates storage and display inthe retail store. whichadequately protects the merchandise, and which permits 'it to be readilyhandled without disturbing the arrangement of the slices or ail'ectingthe appearance of the package.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a neat and attractivepackage of a predetermined quantity of sliced bacon wherein the slicesare arranged in overlapped relation on a paperboard backing providedwith adjoining side and end iiaps which extend over adjacent margins ofthe package and which are creased and folded to conform to the contourof the edges of the pack-l age whereby to facilitate `the application ofa thin transparent over-wrap in an automatic packaging machine.

It is a more specific object of the inventionto provide a package of aproduct which is characterized by the arrangement of a plurality ofrelatively thin slices o f the product in overlapping relation in such amanner that a generally recf tangular mass or unit is formed havingvrelatively thin longitudinal side edges and substantial thicknessthroughout a central portion thereof intermediate the side edges, whichpackage comprises a predetermined mass of the product supported on oneface of a paperboard backing member, said backing member being providedwith a longitudinalpedge flap folded over a. marginal portion of the topof thel product and being further provided with an end ilap folded in asimilar manner over the adjoining end of the product and integrallyconnected to the backing member by an end wall which is cut away at theends thereof whereby to free the ends of the end ilap and permit thesame to conform to the contour of the side margins of the product and athin transparent over-wrap secured over the product which closelyconforms to the top surface of the same.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a package of thecharacter described wherein the side and end ilap members are providedwith a locking means at their overlapping ends which locking means is soarranged that it tends to pull the end panel inwardly toward the productin the package so that when the flaps are locked the end panel ispositioned at an angle relative to the back panel which is slightly lessthan 90 degrees, which facilitates the use of automatic wrappingmachinery for the application of the over-wrap and which results in atighter wrapping of the same.

A further object of the invention is to provide a sliced meat package ofthe character described wherein spaced parallelscore lines are providedon the backing material, the end wall. and the end nap thereof, wherebythe package may be folded over upon itself about one or both of thescore lines to reduce the width of the package for more convenientstorage and handling, particularlv after a portion of the contents hasbeen removed.

It is another object of the invention to provide a -sliced bacon packagewherein strips of bacon are arranged in overlapped relation upon abacking board'having integral folded-over side and end-flaps which arecut and creased so that they arereadllydownuponthetopofthe bacon slicesto conform tothe shape of the same and to permit the package to betightly wrapped with a thin t over-wrap in automatic packagingmachinery.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from aconsideration of the package and the method of forming the same which isshown by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a package of sliced bacon whichincorporates therein the principles of the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the package shown in Fig. l; j

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a backing blank cut and scoredpreparatory topositioning of the sliced bacon thereon; and Y Fig. 4 is a perspectiveview of the package shown in Fig. l with the outer wrapper and part ofthe contents removed. the package being folded upon itself to reduce thewidth and facilitate storage of the same after it has been opened.

In the marketing of sliced bacon it has been conventional to arrangev aplurality of relatively thin slices of the bacon in overlapping relationon a paper backing or in a package for handling and display in theretail store, a suiiicient number oi' I the slices being associated inthis manner to form a convenient unit package of, for example, a poundor fraction oi' a pound of the product. Such arrangement of the slicesresults in a mass of material of a generally fiat rectangular shapewhich has substantial thickness throughout the center portion thereofand which tapers to a thin edge along the longitudinal margins. Such amass or unit ofthe material arranged in this manner presents diiiicultyin packaging. The shape of the mass makes it dimeult to wrap so as toobtain a neat appearing package in which the slices will be snugly heldin their overlapped relation and the ends and side edges thereof willnot be disarranged or'damaged by handling of the package during storageand sale thereof;

In order to provide a neat and attractive package it is desirable toprovide a relatively still. backing member upon which the slices can' beassembled in overlapping relation and a transparent over-wrap appliedoverthe same in such a manner that it will closely conform to thecontour of the exposed surfaces of the strips and hold the same inposition on the backing member, the over-wrap being adapted to beapplied by automatic packaging machinery without setting up any stressesor strains in the same.

There is illustrated in Fig. 1 a package which overcomes thediillculties encountered in packaging sliced bacon or other products ofa similar character. The illustrated package comprises a packing memberIII on which there is arranged in overlapping relation a plurality ofstrips of bacon II and an over-wrap I2 of thin transparent materialsecured neatly and tightly around the same.

The package is formed by first providing the backing member of blank IIIwhich, asmore particularly shown in Fig. 3, is generally rectangular inshape and of a size depending upon the number and size of the strips orslices of bacon or other mechandise to be packaged.

The blank I0, which is preferably of paperboard or similar material, isscored along a longitudinal line I3 which is parallel with`and spacedinwardly oi one longitudinal side edge Il of the blank, to form a frontap or panel I5 which is adapted to fold about the score line I3. Thepanel I5 is cut back at one end of the blank and a. transverse scorelineIB extends from the score line I9 at that end of the flap to theopposite longitudinal side edge I1 of the blank. The score lines I3 andI6 cooperate with the opposite side and end edges I1 and I9,respectively, of the blank to form a bottom panel I9 on which the stripsor slices of the bacon II are adapted to be arranged. The portion of theblank between the transverse score line IB and the adjacent end edge oi'the blank is divided by a transverse score line 2| into an outer endflap 22 and an inner end wall panel 23. I'he end flap 22 is of a widthapproximately the same as'the front flap I5 while the end wall panel 29is of a width approximately the same as the maximum depth or thicknessof the assembled strips of bacon I I throughout its center portion. Theend wall panel 23 is cut away at its opposite ends, along the lines 24,25 at the end adjacent the front flap I5 and along the lines 26, 21 atthe opposite end adjacent the edge I1 of the blank. The cutting linesform generally V-shaped inwardly extending slots with lines 25 and 21generally aligned with the transverse crease line 2| and lines 2l, 26extending from crease line 2I in the general direction ofy the end ofcrease line I2 and the edge I1 of the blank, respectively.

The end flap 22 is provided at the end adjacent longitudinal flap I5with a locking tongue 28 and the longitudinal flap I5 is provided with acooperating locking slit formed by cutting lines 29 and SII and creaselines 3|, 22.

The end flap 22 is also provided with a score line 33 extendinglongitudinally of the blank at the end of the flap adjacent the V-shapedslot formed by cutting lines 26, 21 and extending from apex of theslot.The front flap Il is Provided with a diagonal score line Il at the endopposite the end flap 22. The entire blank I9 is provided with a pair ofparallel spaced approximately the score lines l5. 99 approximately alongthe center l of the blank. Y

In packaging the product a predetermined number of strips of the bacon II, sumcient to pro- -vide the desired weight of material, such as apound, are arranged in longitudinauy extending overlapping relation onthe bottom forming panel I9 of the blank III, the edge strips havingtheir outer edges extending along the marginal edge I1 and the creaseline Il, respectively, of the blank. The front flap I5 is then foldedabout the crease line I9 over onto the top strip of bacon. The frontflap I5 is preferably of a width sufficient to cover the major portionoi the top bacon strip leaving I only a narrow margin of the top edgeexposed as shown in Fig. 1. The end panel 22 and the end flap 22 arethen folded about the crease lines IB and 2i to bring the endf-.panel 23into generally opstanding relation to the back panel I9 and the end flap22 into overlying relation with the adjacent ends of the strips ofbacon. Thereafter the locking tongue 28 is pressed downwardly andengaged in the locking slit formed in the adjacent end of the front apI5. The assembly is then ready to be enclosed in an outer transparentwrapping material I2 which may be readily applied by means of severalwell known types of automatic packaging machinery. 'I'he adjacent endsof the flaps I5 and 22 are held by the locking arrangement in closerelationship to the top of the assembled bacon strips. The free ends ofthe flaps I5 and 22 are pressed down about the fold lines 33 and 3l,respectively, to make them conform to the contour of the edges of thebacon assembly and to permit the wrapper I2 to be secured around thepackage in close fitting relation without any resultant stresses in thewrapping material.

The locking tongue 28 and the cooperating locking elements formed by theslits 29 and90 are preferably so arranged that when they areinterengaged, with the adjacent ends of ilaps I5 and 22 in overlappingrelation, the inner edges of the fiaps I5 and 22 are at an angleslightly less than degrees whereby the opposite end of the flap I5 isdrawn in and down and tends to conform or t more closely to the contentof the package.

The outer wrapper I2 is preferably a sheet of thin transparent materialand may be folded about the assembled bacon I I and backing member IIIin any desired manner. The margins of the wrapper I2 may be overlappedand secured to each other on the back of the package or they may besecured to the backing member ID. Ad-

vertising'matter or decorative labeling may be employed either on theouter wrapper I2 or on the top surfaces of flaps I5 and 22.

In using the package the outer wrapper I2 is removed and the flaps I5and 22 are disengaged.

'Ihe desired number of bacon strips may then be removed from the edge ofthe package and used. Before replacing the remainder of the package inthe refrigerator or other storage place the end ilap 22 and end'wall 23may flrst be re-folded over the ends of the remaining strips of baconand pressed down after which the package may be doubled about the foldlines 35 and 36 to bring the edge I1 adjacent the score line I3 and theflap I5 may be folded over as shown in Fig. 4 to provide a package forstorage of reduced width.

While the illustrated form of the invention has been described withreference to specific packoverlie an end of the product and a relativelylow end wall connecting the end ilap with the I body of the blank. saidend wall being provided of a side and end margin to denne a body portionand side and end panel portions, the side panel portion being adapted tobe folded over the front face of the body portion and the end panelportion being further scored transversely of the blank to Vdivide thesame into a relatively narrow end wall forming portion and an end flapforming portion, said end flap forming portion being adapted to befolded over the front face of the body portion, said bia-nk being cutaway at the corner adjoining Vthe side and end panel portions and beingaLso provided with inwardly directed slots extending into the ends ofthe end wallforming portion whereby to free the ends of the end flapforming portion therefrom, and said side panel and end nap formingportions being transversely scored adjacent the ends thereof remote fromeach other whereby said side panel and end ilap forming portions may befolded to conform to the contour of the material enclosed when the blankis assembled with the same.

2. A bacon package comprising a generally rectangular backing member ofrelatively stiff material, a plurality of bacon slices assembled inedgeoverlapped relation lengthwise of one face thereof, a side flapfolded over one side margin of the assembled bacon slices, an end ilapfolded over an end.margin of the bacon slices, a relatively low end wallconnecting thefend iiap with the backing member, said end wall havingportions cut away inwardly of its opposite ends to release the endportions of said end flap therefrom; said end portions of the end flapbeing folded down to conform the same to the contour of the side edgesof the assembled bacon slices, and a thin sheet of` transparentmaterialv secured over the bacon slices and the backing member to holdVthe same in compact assembled relation. Y

3. A bacon package comprising a generally rec,- tanguiar paper boardbacking member cut and scored to providev a flap forming panel along oneside edge, an end lwall forming panel and an integral end flap formingpanel along on end edge, a plurality of bacon slices arranged inlengthwise edge-overlapped relation to said backing member, said sideedge flap forming panel being folded into overlapping relationwith-portions of the uppermost bacon shoes, said end wall forming panelbeing folded into4 upstanding relation along one end of the bacon slicesand said end iiap forming panel being folded into overlying relationwith said one end of the bacon slices and said end wall forming panelhaving slots lat its ends extending inwardly thereof, whereby the endsof said end flap are free to fold down onto and conform to the contourof the side edges of the bacon.

4. A paperboard blank adapted for wrapping a product consisting of aplurality of bacon slices arranged in edge overlapped relation, saidblank being generally rectangular and being longitudinally scored alongone side to provide a side ilap which when folded is adapted to overlieone side margin of the product.- said blank being transversely Vscoredadjacent one end to provide an end flap with V-shaped slots at oppositeends thereof, said slots extending inwardly of the longitudinal sideedges of the body of said blank along the transverse score line whichseparates said end wall and said end nap whereby the ends of said endiiap are adapted to be folded down to conform said ends to the contourof the side edges of the product.

5. A paperboard blank for wrapping a material which is characterized bya` pluralityl of relatively thin generally rectangular slices arrangedlengthwise of the blankv in edge overlapping relation to each other,said blank being generally rectangular and scored along lines spacedinwardly of a side and end margin thereof to dcilne a body panel andside and end panel portions, said end panel portion being further scoredtransversely. of the blank to divide the saine into a relatively narrowend wall forming portion and an end nap forming portion, said side panelportion and said end flap forming portion being adapted to be foldedover the front face of the body panel. said blank being cut away at thecomer adjoining the side and end panel portions and said end wallforming portion being cut away inwardly of the side edges of the bodypanel to release the ends of the end ilap forming portion therefromwhereby to permit said ends to be folded to conform to the contour ofthe material enclosed when the blank is assembled with the same.

6. A package comprising a body of xneat material which meat material ischaracterized by v a plurality of relatively thin generallyrectanguwhich `when folded is adapted to, lines.

wrapped about the lar meat slices arranged to provide a mass havlng thinside edges tapering laterally thereof and a somewhat thick portionintermediate the side edges. a paperboard backing material scored andfolded to provide a body portion on which the meat material is arranged,a relatively narrow side flap extending over one side margin of the meatmaterial and a relatively narrowend flap extending over an adjoining endmargin of the meat material, said end nap being connected to the bodyportion by a relatively low end wall, said end wall having portions vatits Aends disconnected from said end flap and reduced in depth tovpermit the end portions of said end ilap to i'old `iiat against thetapering side edges of the meat material, and a thin sheet oftransparent wrapping material arranged to be tightly meat material andthe backing material.

v'1. A package as recited in claim 6 and interlocking elements onadjoining portions of said side and end flaps securing said side and endflap portions in engaged and connected relation.

8. A package as recited in claim 6 and interlocking elements onadjoining portions of said side and end flaps, said interlockingelements being constructed and arranged whereby to pull said end wallinwardly toward said meat material so that said end wall is positionedat an angle relative to the body portion of the backing material whichis slightly less than degrees.

9. A package as recited in claim 6 and said backing material havinglongitudinally extending parallel score lines intermediate thelongitudinal side edges of the body portion, end wall and end flapwhereby the package is adapted to be readily folded upon itself aboutsaid score 10.Aslicedbaconpackage,inchidingailat elongated rectangularcardboard backing panel, a plurality of bacon slices of substantiallythe same length as the panel arranged lengthwise on the latter with theslices partially overlapping each other in a direction sidewise of thepanel to present a mass which is of substantially uniform thicknessthroughout the greater part of its width but tapers on' in` thicknesstoward ythe sides of the panel, an upstanding transversely extending endwall integrally connected with one end of the panel. which end wall isof substantially uniform height throughout the greater part of its widthand, following generally the contour of the end of the bacon mass.tapers oi! in height toward the sides of the panel, and a transverselyextending cover ilap integrally connected with the upper edge of saidend wall, which cover ilap extends flatly over the end of the bacon massportion of lmiiorm thickness and slopes downwardly with the tapered massportions toward the sides of the panel at said end, and a covering inoverlying relation to said cover flap and the bacon mass exposed beyondthe same.

11. A sliced bacon package comprising a generally rectangular backingmember of relatively stin' material, a plurality of bacon slicesarranged in edge-overlapping relation and extending lengthwise on oneface of said backing member. a side flap folded over one side margin ofthe 8 assembled bacon slices, an end iiap an end margin or the bacon lowend wall connecting the backing member, said end wall cut away inwardlyof at least one to release the adjacent end portion iiap therefro saidend portion of the being folded down to conform the same to the contourof the side edge of the assembled bacon CARL G. MAYEB. OSCAR E.BEII'ERTH.

REFERENCES errno The following references are of record in the ille ofthis patent: I

' UNITED STATES PATENTS

2. A BACON PACKAGE COMPRISING A GENERALLY REETANGULAR BACKING MEMBER OFRELATIVELY STIFF MATERIAL, A PLURALITY OF BACON SLICES ASSEMBLED INEDGEOVERLAPPED RELATION LENGTHWISE OF ONE FACE THEREOF, A SIDE FLAPFOLDED OVER ONE SIDE MARGIN OF THE ASSEMBLED BACON SLICES, AN END FLAPFOLDED OVER AN END MARGIN OF THE BARCON SILCES, A RELATIVELY LOW ENDWALL CONNECTING THE END FLAP WITH THE BACKING MEMBER, SAID END WALLHAVING PORTIONS CUT AWAY INWARDLY OF ITS OPPOISITE ENDS TO RELEASE THEEND PORTIONS OF SAID END FLAP THEREFROM, SAID END PORTIONS OF THE ENDFLAP BEING FOLDED DOWN TO CONFORM THE SAME TO THE CONTOUR OF THE SIDEEDGES OF THE ASSEMBLED BACON SILCES, AND A THIN SHEET OF TREANSPARENTMATERIAL SECURED OVER THE BACON SILCES AND THE BACKING MEMBER TO HOLDTHE SAME IN COMPACT ASSEMBLED RELATION.